Almond harvest

Almonds grow on Mike Young's farm in Buttonwillow, about 25 miles west of Bakersfield. He used to grow tomatoes, cucumbers and cotton, but in recent years has almost exclusively to nuts.

Almonds grow on Mike Young's farm in Buttonwillow, about 25 miles west of Bakersfield. He used to grow tomatoes, cucumbers and cotton, but in recent years has almost exclusively to nuts. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Almonds grow on Mike Young's farm in Buttonwillow, about 25 miles west of Bakersfield. He used to grow tomatoes, cucumbers and cotton, but in recent years has almost exclusively to nuts.